xv, 255 pages, [24] pages of plates : 24 cm

Mike Leigh is widely recognised as one of the great mavericks and creative geniuses of British stage, cinema and television. Since his first film, Bleak Moments, burst on an unsuspecting public in 1971, he has produced a body of work that is idiosyncratic, controversial, often hilarious and always acutely sensitive to the human condition. Though many of Britain's finest actors are unforgettably associated with his work, for much of his career Leigh has had to struggle for recognition in the face of establishment hostility and suspicion. Above all, Leigh is famous for his unique method of working with actors to produce characters and a script which emerge from months of improvisations and rehearsals. The results are often extraordinary: comic, poignant, above all totally individual. Written with its subject's full cooperation, this book is the first major critical evaluation of Leigh's career.--From publisher description

The world according to Mike Leigh -- Naked as nature distended -- Childhood in Salford and plans for escape -- On the fringe with friends in the sixties -- Bleak moments and television times -- Nuts and nibbles at Abigail's party -- Melt-down means ecstasy for grown-ups -- Salesmen and postmen : rows over special delivery -- Mean times, Irish times and difficult times -- Rats, Greeks and east-enders -- Life is sweet, and sour, and going on

Includes bibliographical references (page 245) and index

plus-circle Add Review

comment

Reviews